Vehicle, refrigerator for vehicle, and controlling method for refrigerator for vehicle

ABSTRACT

A vehicle, a refrigerator for a vehicle, and a method for controlling a refrigerator for a vehicle are provided. The method for controlling the refrigerator for the vehicle includes turning on a switch of the refrigerator for the vehicle, measuring a temperature of an interior of the refrigerator for the vehicle a first time, measuring a temperature of the interior of the refrigerator for the vehicle again a second time after a predetermined time has elapsed from the first time, determining a temperature change of the interior of the refrigerator from the first time to the second time, and operating the refrigerator for the vehicle in a quench mode in which the temperature in the interior of the refrigerator is rapidly lowered, unlike a normal mode, if the temperature change in the interior of the refrigerator is in a positive direction.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation Application of prior U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/635,793 filed Jan. 31, 2020, which claimspriority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2017-0097842, filed inKorea on Aug. 1, 2017, whose entire disclosures are hereby incorporatedby reference.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

A vehicle, a refrigerator for a vehicle, and a method for controlling arefrigerator for a vehicle are disclosed herein.

2. Background

A refrigerator is an apparatus for storing products, such as foods,received in the refrigerator at a low temperature including sub-zerotemperatures. As a result of this action, there is an advantage that auser's intake with respect to the products may be improved, or a storageperiod of the products may be lengthened.

Refrigerators are classified into indoor refrigerators using acommercial power source or outdoor refrigerators using a portable powersource. In addition, in recent years, a refrigerator for a vehicle,which is used after fixedly mounted on the vehicle, has been increasingin demand. The refrigerator for the vehicle is increasingly in demanddue to an increase in supply of vehicles and an increase inpremium-class vehicle.

A conventional configuration of the refrigerator for the vehicle will bedescribed hereinafter. For a first example, there is an example in whichheat in the refrigerator is forcibly discharged outside of therefrigerator using a thermoelement. However, there is a limitation inthat a cooling rate is slow due to low thermal efficiency of thethermoelement deteriorating user satisfaction.

For another example, there is an example in which a refrigerant or coldair is drawn from an air conditioning system installed forair-conditioning an entire interior of the vehicle and used as a coolingsource for the refrigerator for the vehicle. In this example, there is adisadvantage that a separate flow path of air or refrigerant is requiredto draw the air or refrigerator from the air conditioning system of thevehicle. Also, there is a limitation that low-temperature energy is lostduring movement of the air or refrigerant through the flow path. Also,there is a limitation that a position at which the refrigerator for thevehicle is installed is limited to a position that is adjacent to theair conditioning system of the vehicle due to the above-describedlimitations.

For another example, there is an example in which a refrigeration cycleusing a refrigerant is applied. However, in this example, as a componentconstituting the refrigeration cycle is large in size, most of thecomponent is mounted in a trunk, and only a door of the refrigerator isopened to the inside of the vehicle. In this case, there is a limitationthat a position for installing the refrigerator for the vehicle islimited. Also, there is a limitation that the trunk is significantlyreduced in volume to reduce an amount of cargo capable of being loadedin the trunk.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,545,211 is a representative example of theabove-mentioned example. The technology of the cited document has thefollowing limitations.

There is a limitation that an internal volume of the vehiclerefrigerator is reduced due to a large volume of a machine room. Thereis a limitation that the driver may not use the vehicle refrigeratorwithout stopping driving when the driver is alone in the vehicle becausethe refrigerator is installed in the back seat. Also, as the door isopened forward, there is inconvenience that it may not put an object inthe front. Since the cooling in the refrigerator is performed by directcooling, that is, by natural convection, it takes a long time to cool aproduct. As the machine room is directly opened to the outside, there isa high possibility that foreign substances are mixed into the inside ofthe machine room causing a failure. There is a limitation that thesuctioned air is mixed again because suction and exhaust of the air arenot separated from each other, deteriorating heat efficiency. There is alimitation that inconvenience is caused to the user due to noise of themachine room according to use of the compressor.

Due to such a limitation, the present applicant has proposed arefrigerator for a vehicle having a separate refrigerant compressor inthe driver's seat. The vehicle refrigerator is affected by theenvironment in which the vehicle is placed. Further, as the vehicle isplaced in an external environment, the vehicle refrigerator experiencesextreme temperature changes. For example, it may be exposed to atemperature of 80° C. in summer, and may reach −30° C. in winter.

The vehicle refrigerator may be used by the driver additionally whilethe vehicle is in operation. According to such use, it is necessary thata desired temperature environment is urgently needed in a state of notbeing used for a long time.

The refrigerator for the vehicle is a device for accompanying vehicleoperation and does not have a separate temperature adjustment button. Inother words, only the power switch of the vehicle refrigerator iscontrolled to control the operation of the refrigerator.

An object of embodiments is to provide a refrigerator for a vehiclewhich enables a user to quickly eat food in a desired state even if therefrigerator for a vehicle is directly affected by the externalenvironment. An object of embodiments is to provide a refrigerator for avehicle which is cable of being stored in an optimal state of food onlyby an on-off operation. An object of embodiments is to provide arefrigerator for a vehicle that reflects the state of a stored articlehoused in a refrigerator for a vehicle.

In order to quickly realize a desired state of food by reflecting thestate of the food, an interior of a refrigerator for a vehicle ismeasured twice, and if a temperature change in the interior of therefrigerator is positive, the refrigerator for the vehicle is operatedin a quenching mode. In order to reflect both a vehicle state and a foodstate, a vehicle refrigerator is operated in a quench mode when atemperature measured first is higher than a reference temperature and atemperature change in the interior of the refrigerator is negative. Inorder to allow food to be stored in an optimal state only by an on-offoperation, when reaching a predetermined target temperature during anoperation of a quench mode, the operation mode is automatically shiftedto the normal mode in which it is cooled slowly.

According to embodiments, it is possible to implement an optimumoperating condition of the refrigerator for a vehicle by reflecting thestate of the vehicle. According to embodiments, it is possible tooptimally implement a refrigeration state automatically only byoperating the refrigerator button in the vehicle. According toembodiments, an initial state of the refrigerator and an initial stateof a stored article may be reflected together, so that the refrigeratoroperates under optimal conditions.

The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanyingdrawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent fromthe description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the followingdrawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements, andwherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a console of thevehicle;

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view illustrating an inside of avehicle refrigerator;

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a connection relationship between amachine room and a cavity;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of an evaporation module;

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining an air flow outside of a machine room ofthe vehicle refrigerator;

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining a cold air flow in addition to across-sectional view of an evaporation module;

FIG. 8 is a schematic front view illustrating an inside of a cavity soas to explain a position of a cold air discharge port;

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a discharge direction of cold air throughthe cold air discharge port;

FIG. 10 is a view for explaining a configuration of a control device ofthe vehicle refrigerator;

FIGS. 11A and 11B are flowcharts for explaining a method for controllinga vehicle refrigerator;

FIG. 12 is a graph for explaining an operation mode of a vehiclerefrigerator according to another embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a temperature change curve of members disposed in arefrigerator in a quench mode;

FIG. 14 is a graph of solubility of carbon dioxide;

FIGS. 15A-15C are views illustrating an internal configuration of avacuum adiabatic body according to various embodiments;

FIGS. 16A-16B are views of a conductive resistance sheet and aperipheral portion of the conductive resistance sheet;

FIG. 17 is a graph illustrating results obtained by observing a time anda pressure in a process of exhausting the inside of the vacuum adiabaticbody when a supporting unit is used; and

FIG. 18 is a graph obtained by comparing a vacuum pressure with gasconductivity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description of embodiments with reference to thedrawings, the same reference numerals are given to different drawings inthe case of the same components. Also, in the description of eachdrawing, the description will be made with reference to a direction inwhich the vehicle is viewed from a front of the vehicle, rather than thefront viewed by a driver based on a traveling direction of the vehicle.For example, the driver is on the right, and the assistant driver is onthe left.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle according to an embodiment.Referring to FIG. 1 , a seat 2 on which a user is seated is provided ina vehicle 1. The seat 2 may be provided in a pair horizontally spacedapart from each other. A console is disposed between the seats 2, and adriver places items that are necessary for driving or components thatare necessary for manipulating the vehicle on the console. Front seatsin which the driver and the assistant driver are seated may be describedas an example of the seats 2. It should be understood that the vehicleincludes various components, which are necessary for driving thevehicle, such as a moving device, such as a wheel, a driving device,such as an engine, and a steering device, such as a steering wheel.

The refrigerator for the vehicle according to an embodiment may beplaced on the console. However, embodiments are not limited thereto. Forexample, the refrigerator for the vehicle may be installed in variousspaces. For example, the refrigerator for the vehicle may be installedin a space between rear seats, a door, a globe box, and a center fascia.This is one of factors that the refrigerator for the vehicle accordingto an embodiment is capable of being installed only when power issupplied, and a minimum space is secured. However, it is a greatadvantage of the embodiment in that it may be installed in the consolebetween the seats, which is limited in space due to limitations invehicle design.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating the console of thevehicle. Referring to FIG. 2 , a console 3 may be provided as a separatepart made of a material, such as a resin. A steel frame 98 may beprovided below the console 3 to maintain a strength of the vehicle, anda sensor part (sensor) 99, such as a sensor, may be disposed in a spacepart (space) between the console 3 and the steel frame 98. The sensorpart 99 may be a part that is necessary for accurately sensing anexternal signal and measuring a signal at a position of the driver. Forexample, an airbag sensor that is directly connected to a life of thedriver may be mounted.

The console 3 may have a console space 4 therein, and the console space4 may be covered by a console cover 300. The console cover 300 may beinstalled to the console 3 in a fixed type. Thus, it is difficult forexternal foreign substances to be introduced into the console throughthe console cover 300. A vehicle refrigerator 7 is seated in the consolespace 4.

A suction port 5 may be provided in a right (first) surface of theconsole 3 to introduce air within the vehicle into the console space 4.The suction port 5 may face the driver. An exhaust port 6 may beprovided in a left (second) surface of the console 3 to exhaust warmedair while the vehicle refrigerator operates from inside of the consolespace 4. The exhaust port 6 may face the assistant driver. A grill maybe provided in each of the suction port 5 and the exhaust port 6 toprevent a user's hand from being inserted and thereby to provide safety,prevent an object, which falls from an upper side, from beingintroduced, and allow air to be exhausted to flow downward so as not tobe directed to the person.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view illustrating an inside of avehicle refrigerator. Referring to FIG. 3 , the vehicle refrigerator 7includes a refrigerator bottom frame 8 that supports parts (components),a machine room 200 provided in a left (first) side of the refrigeratorbottom frame 8, and a cavity 100 provided in a right (second) side ofthe refrigerator bottom frame 8. The machine room 200 may be covered bya machine room cover 700, and an upper side of the cavity 100 may becovered by the console cover 300 and a door 800. The machine room cover700 may not only guide a passage of cooling air, but also preventforeign substances from being introduced into the machine room 200.

A controller 900 may be disposed on the machine room cover 700 tocontrol an overall operation of the vehicle refrigerator 7. As thecontroller 900 is installed at the above-described position, the vehiclerefrigerator 7 may be controlled to operate without problems in a propertemperature range in a narrow space inside of the console space 4.

That is, the controller 900 may be cooled by air flowing through a gapbetween the machine room cover 700 and the console cover 300 andseparated from an inner space of the machine room 200 by the machineroom cover 700. Thus, the controller 900 may not be affected by heatwithin the machine room 200.

The console cover 300 may not only cover an open upper portion of theconsole space 4, but also cover an upper edge of the cavity 100. Thedoor 800 may be installed on the console cover 300 to allow the user toopen and close an opening through which products are dispensed to thecavity 100. The door 800 may be opened using rear portions of theconsole cover 300 and the cavity 100 as hinge points. The opening of theconsole cover 300, the door 800, and the cavity 100 may be performed byeasily manipulating the door 800 by the user because the console cover300, the door 800, and the cavity 100 are horizontally disposed whenviewed from the user and also disposed at a rear side of the console.

A condensation module 500, a dryer 630, and a compressor 201 may besuccessively installed in the machine room 200 in a flow direction ofthe cooling air. A refrigerant conduit 600 for allowing the refrigerantto smoothly flow is provided in the machine room 200. A portion of therefrigerant conduit 600 may extend to the inside of the cavity 100 tosupply the refrigerant. The refrigerant conduit 600 may extend to theoutside of the cavity 100 through the upper opening through which theproducts are introduced into the cavity 100.

The cavity 100 has an open top surface and five surfaces that arecovered by a vacuum adiabatic body 101. The cavity 100 may be thermallyinsulated by an individual vacuum adiabatic body or one or more vacuumadiabatic bodies communicating with each other. The cavity 100 may beprovided by the vacuum adiabatic body 101. Also, the cavity 100 throughwhich the products are accessible through one surface opened by thevacuum adiabatic body 101 may be provided.

The vacuum adiabatic body 101 may include a first plate member (firstplate) 10 providing a boundary of a low-temperature inner space of thecavity 100, a second plate member (second plate) 20 providing a boundaryof a high-temperature outer space, and a conductive resistance sheet 60blocking heat transfer between the plate members 10 and 20. As thevacuum adiabatic body 101 has a thin adiabatic thickness to maximallyobtain adiabatic efficiency, the cavity 100 having a large capacity maybe realized.

An exhaust and getter port for the exhaust of the inner space of thevacuum adiabatic body 101 and for installing a getter that maintains thevacuum state may be provided on one surface. The exhaust and getter port40 may provide the exhaust and getter together to contribute tominiaturization of the vehicle refrigerator 7.

An evaporation module 400 may be installed in the cavity 100. Theevaporation module 400 may evaporate the refrigerant introduced into thecavity 100 through the refrigerant conduit 600 and forcibly blow coldinto the cavity 100.

The evaporation module 400 may be disposed at a rear side within thecavity 100. Thus, the front space within the cavity 100, which is usedby the user facing a front side, may be increased to be even larger.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a connection relationship between amachine room and a cavity. Referring to FIG. 4 , the evaporation module400 is accommodated in the cavity 100. That is, the evaporation module400 is disposed in the inner space of the cavity 100 having the vacuumadiabatic body 101 as an outer wall. Thus, the machine room 200 may beimproved in space efficiency, and the cavity 100 may increase in innerspace. This is because the vacuum adiabatic body achieves high adiabaticperformance even though the vacuum adiabatic body has a thin thickness.

The refrigerant conduit 600 guides the refrigerant into the evaporationmodule 400 over a top surface of the cavity 100. It may be consideredthat the refrigerant conduit 600 passes through the vacuum adiabaticbody 101 to reduce a volume thereof. However, as the vehicle has a lotof vibration, and the inside of the vacuum adiabatic body 101 ismaintained in considerably high vacuum state, sealing of the contactportion between the refrigerant conduit 600 and the vacuum adiabaticbody 101 may be damaged. Thus, it is not advantageous for therefrigerant conduit 600 passes through the vacuum adiabatic body 101.For example, air leakage due to vibration of the vehicle may occur. Ifair leaks from the vacuum adiabatic body, it may be expected that theadiabatic effect is significantly deteriorated.

The evaporation module 400 may be installed to contact a hinge point ofthe door within the cavity 100, i.e., a rear surface within the cavity100. This is because a path that is necessary for allow the refrigerantconduit 600 to extend up to the evaporation module 400 is as short aspossible for ensuring the internal volume of the cavity 100. Also, theinner volume of the cavity may be maximized.

It is more advantageous that the refrigerant conduit 600 passing overthe vacuum adiabatic body 101 passes through the hinge point of thedoor. If the evaporation module 400 is out of the hinge point of thedoor, a capacity of the cavity and low-temperature energy may be lostdue to extension of the refrigerant conduit 600 and insulation of therefrigerant conduit 600.

The condensation module 500 may be coupled by a rear coupling unit ofthe machine room bottom frame 210. Air suctioned through thecondensation module 500 may cool the compressor 201 and then bedischarged downward from the compressor 201.

The machine room cover 700 may be coupled to a left (first) side of thecavity 100 to cover the machine room 200. Air flow for cooling may occuran upper side of the machine room cover 700, and the controller 900 maybe provided in the cooling passage to perform sufficient cooling action.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of an evaporation module.Referring to FIG. 5 , the evaporation module 400 includes a rear cover430 disposed at a rear side to accommodate the parts and a front cover450 disposed at a front side of the rear cover 430 to face the cavity100. A space may be provided inside by the front cover 450 and the rearcover 430 to accommodate the parts in the space.

In the space defined by the front cover 450 and the rear cover 430, anevaporator 410 is disposed at a lower side, and an evaporation fan 420is disposed at an upper side. A centrifugal fan capable of being mountedin a narrow space may be used as the evaporation fan 420. Moreparticularly, a sirocco fan including a fan inlet 422 having a largearea to suction air and a fan outlet 421 that blows air at a high speedin a predetermined discharge direction in a narrow space may be used asthe evaporation fan 420. As the sirocco fan may be driven with lownoise, it is also possible to use the sirocco fan in a low noiseenvironment.

The air passing through the evaporator 410 is suctioned into the faninlet 422, and the air discharged from the fan outlet 421 is dischargedto the cavity 100. For this, a predetermined space may be providedbetween the evaporation fan 420 and the rear cover 430.

A plurality of compartments may be provided in the rear cover 430 toaccommodate the parts. Particularly, the evaporator 410 and theevaporation fan 420 are disposed in a first compartment 431 to guide aflow of cold air. A lamp 440 may be disposed in a second compartment 432to brighten the inside of the cavity 100 so that the user looks insideof the cavity 100. A temperature sensor 441 is disposed in a fourthcompartment 434 to measure an inner temperature of the cavity 100 andthereby to control a temperature of the vehicle refrigerator.

When the temperature sensor 441 disposed in the fourth compartment 434measures the inner temperature of the cavity 100, the flow in the cavitymay not be affected. That is, the cold air of the evaporator 410 may nothave a direct influence on a third compartment 433. Although the thirdcompartment 433 is removed in some cases, the third compartment 433 maybe provided to prevent an error of the inner temperature of the cavity100 from occurring by conductive heat.

The fourth compartment 434 and the temperature sensor 441 are disposedat a left upper end, i.e., a vertex of the evaporation module 400, whichis farthest from the evaporator 410. This is to prevent cold air fromhaving an influence on the evaporator 410. That is, to prevent the coldair of the evaporator 410 from having a direct influence on the fourthcompartment 434 through conduction, the fourth compartment 434 and thetemperature sensor 441 may be isolated from the first compartment 431 byother compartments 432 and 433.

An inner structure of the first compartment 431 will be described indetail. A fan housing 435 is provided in a circular shape so that theevaporation fan 420 is disposed at an upper side of the firstcompartment 431, and an evaporator placing part 437 on which theevaporator 410 is placed is provided at a lower side. A conduit passage436 is provided in a left (first) side of the fan housing 435.

The conduit passage 436 may be a portion through which refrigerantconduit 600 passing over the vacuum adiabatic body 101 is guided intothe evaporation module 400 and be provided in a left (first) cornerportion of the evaporation module. The refrigerant conduit 600 mayinclude two conduits surrounded by the adiabatic material so that thetwo conduits through which the evaporation module 400 is inserted andwithdrawn are heat-exchanged with each other. Thus, the conduit passage436 may have a predetermined volume. The conduit passage 436 mayvertically extend from a left (first) side of the evaporation module 400to improve space density inside of the evaporation module 400.

As described above, the evaporator 410 and the evaporation fan 420 areprovided in the rear cover 430 to perform cooling of air within thecavity and circulation of air within the cavity. The front cover 450 hasan approximately rectangular shape like the rear cover 430. A cold airinflow hole 451 guiding air toward a lower side of the evaporator 410and a cold air discharge hole 452 aligned with the fan outlet 421 areprovided below the front cover 450. The cold air discharge hole 452 mayhave a shape an inner surface of which is smoothly bent forward todischarge air, which is discharged downward from the evaporation fan420, forward. The front cover 450 aligned with the second compartment432 may be opened, or a window 453 may be provided on the portion of thefront cover 450 so that light of the lamp 440 is irradiated into thecavity 100.

An air vent hole 454 is defined in the front cover 450 aligned with thefourth compartment 434. The air discharged from the cold air dischargehole 452 circulates inside of the cavity 100 and then is introduced intothe air vent hole 454. Thus, the inner temperature of the cavity 100 maybe more accurately detected. For example, the inner temperature of thecavity 100 may be erroneously measured by a large amount of cold airdischarged from the cold air discharge hole 452. The cold air may causea static temperature inside of the cavity to have a direct influencewithout affecting the cold air blown from the evaporation fan 420. Forthis, the fourth compartment 434 may be disposed at the uppermost rightend of the rear surface of the cavity.

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining an air flow outside of a machine room ofthe vehicle refrigerator. Referring to FIG. 6 , air introduced into thesuction port 5 moves to a left (first) side of the vehicle refrigeratorthrough a space between the vacuum adiabatic body 101 defining a frontwall of the cavity 100 and a front surface of the console space 4. As aheating source is not provided at a right (second) side of the vehiclerefrigerator, the suction air may be maintained at its originaltemperature.

The air moving to the left side of the vehicle refrigerator may bechanged in direction to a rear side to move along a top surface of themachine room cover 700 outside of the machine room 200. To smoothlyguide the air flow, the machine room cover 700 may have a height thatgradually increases backward from the front surface 710. Also, toprovide a region in which the controller 900 is disposed, and preventthe parts within the machine room 200 from interfering in position witheach other, a stepped part (step) may be disposed on a top surface ofthe machine room cover 700.

A first stepped part (first step) 732, a second stepped part (secondstep) 733, and a third stepped part (third step) 735 may be successivelyprovided backward from the front surface. A controller placing part 734having a same height as the third stepped part 735 is disposed on thesecond stepped part 733. Due to this structure, the controller 900 maybe disposed in parallel to the third stepped part 735 and the controllerplacing part 734.

The air moving along the top surface of the machine room cover 700 maycool the controller 900. When the controller 900 is cooled, the air maybe slightly heated.

The air moving up to the rear side of the machine room cover 700 flowsdownward. An opened large cover suction port is defined in the rearsurface of the machine room 200. For this, a predetermined space may beprovided between the rear surface of the machine room cover 700 and therear surface of the console space 4. Thereafter, the air cooling theinside of the machine room cover 700 is discharged to the outsidethrough a bottom of the machine room 200.

As described above, the evaporation module 400 is disposed at a rearside of the cavity 100, and the refrigerant conduit 600 supplying therefrigerant into the evaporation module 400 passes over the cavity 100.In addition, a hinge of the door 800 and the evaporation module 400 areplaced on the rear side of the cavity 100 so that a rear portion of thecavity 100 is vulnerable to thermal insulation.

To solve this limitation, a hinge adiabatic member 470 is provided. Thehinge adiabatic member 470 performs an adiabatic action on an upperportion of the evaporation module 400, between the evaporation module400 and a rear wall of the cavity 100, and a contact part between aregeneration adiabatic member 651 inserted into the cavity and an innerspace of the cavity. As described above, the console cover 300 isfurther provided above the hinge adiabatic member 470 to lead tocomplete heat insulation.

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining a cold air flow in addition to across-sectional view of an evaporation module. Referring to FIG. 7 , theair flow inside the evaporation module 400 may be illustrated by thearrows.

In detail, a flow of cold air will be described. The air introducedthrough the cold air inlet 451 on a lower side of a front cover iscooled while passing through the evaporator 410. The cooled air flows toa rear of the evaporation fan 420, is introduced through the fan inlet422 on a rear surface of the evaporation fan 420, and is dischargeddownward toward the fan outlet 421 by centrifugal force. A sirocco fanmay be used as the evaporation fan, and a shape of the fan housing andpositioning of the fan may be adjusted to set a direction of thedischarge port downward.

The air discharged from the fan outlet 421 is changed in direction to afront side through the cold air discharge port 452 and then isdischarged to the inside of the cavity 100. A cold air discharge guide456 having a shape that is smoothly bent so that the air dischargeddownward is smoothly bent forward and discharged may be provided in thecold air discharge port 452.

The inside of the cavity may be uniformly cooled. For example, ifcontainers on one side and the other are cooled to differenttemperatures, a large number of people may not enjoy cold drinkstogether. From this point of view, it is important to note where thecold air discharge port 452 is formed on the front cover 450 and whichdirection the cold air is discharged.

FIG. 8 is a schematic front view illustrating the inside of the cavityso as to explain a position of the cold air discharge port. Referring toFIG. 8 , the cold air discharge port 452 is disposed to extend in theleft and right (lateral) direction from a substantially middle heightinside of the cavity.

That is, when the inside of the cavity is divided into three parts, thecold air discharge port 452 is disposed at the third part of the middle.As a result, the air discharged from the middle portion spreads throughinner obstacles and then flows downward into the evaporation module 400.Also, the cold air discharge port 452 may be provided to extendhorizontally, and thus, widely spread in the left and right direction sothat the air is uniformly spread into the cavity 100. The cold airdischarge port 452 may be disposed from the bottom of the cavity 100 atone-three point from one point.

This is because the cold air discharged from the cold air discharge port452 collides with a storage container disposed inside of the cavity. Asan upper portion of the storage container 498 is smaller than the body,the cold air may flow to the front of the cavity 100. On the contrary,as the body of the storage container 498 has a small gap, and thus, highflow resistance, it is difficult for the cold air to flow to the frontof the cavity 100.

That is, as the cold air discharge port 452 is disposed between one-twopoint and one-three point from the bottom of the cavity 100, a flow ofthe cold air flowing to the front of the cavity 100 over a neck portionof the storage container and a flow of the cold air that is stopped atthe rear side of the cavity 100 by colliding with the neck portion ofthe storage container may be joined together. Thus, an effect that thefront and rear sides inside of the cavity 100 are cooled together, andthus, all products placed in the cavity 100 may be uniformly cooled.

If other products do not interfere with each other, the cold airdischarge port 452 may be disposed at one-two point in the left andright direction. Thus, the cold flowing over the storage container 498,i.e., the cold air flowing over the spacing part between the storagecontainers 498 and the cold air does not flow over the spacing part maybe distinguished from each other. It is conceivable that two rows, i.e.,two beverage containers are accommodated in the cavity. This is adesirable form considering a size of the beverage container andconsidering the number of beverage containers that are provided in anarrow console space.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a discharge direction of cold air throughthe cold air discharge port. Referring to FIG. 9 , cold air dischargeport 452 is provided substantially at a center when viewed from upper,lower, left, and right sides of the rear surface of the cavity, and coldair is discharged to the right side with reference to the drawing. Thereare four storage containers 498 placed inside of the cavity 100 andassigned different numbers depending on their positions.

Referring to the drawings, an operation of the embodiment based ontemperature change of the storage container 498 will be describedhereinafter.

FIG. 10 is a view for explaining a control device of the vehiclerefrigerator. Referring to FIG. 10 , in the vehicle refrigerator, anon-off switch is connected to a power source 110. The on-off switch 111is a switch for operating when the user wants to use the refrigerator.The on-off switch 111 may be provided on a dashboard of the vehicle, forexample, which is accessible to the user's hand.

The vehicle refrigerator may be operated under the control of acontroller 120. The vehicle refrigerator includes a temperature sensor441 provided in an interior 130 of the refrigerator to measure atemperature of the interior 130 of the refrigerator. The evaporation fan420 for cooling the interior 130 of the refrigerator by evaporation ofthe refrigerant is provided in the interior 130 of the refrigerator. Thecompressor 201 that compresses the refrigerant and a condensation module500 that condenses the refrigerant are provided at an exterior of therefrigerator, which is separated from the interior 130 of therefrigerator. The condensation module 500 may include a fan.

The compressor 201, the condensation module 500, the evaporation fan420, and the temperature sensor 441 may be operated by communicatingwith the controller 120. The controller 120 and each of the componentsof the vehicle refrigerator may be automatically performed by turningthe on-off switch 111 on. The on-off switch 111 may be operated onlywhen a main power switch of the vehicle, that is, the power supplyswitch of the vehicle is turned on. Thus, discharge of the vehicle maybe prevented.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining a method for controlling a vehiclerefrigerator. Referring to FIG. 11 , a main switch of a vehicle isturned on (S1). When there is a need of a user to cool beverages, theuser turns on the refrigerator (S2). If the main switch of the vehicleis not turned on, the switch of the refrigerator may be prevented frombeing turned on. Typically, a user may drive the vehicle refrigerator byinserting beverages and food, for example (hereinafter, referred to as a“storage article”), into the vehicle refrigerator.

When the on-off switch 111 of the refrigerator is turned on, thecontroller 120 reads a temperature T_(O) of the interior 130 of therefrigerator in the current state from the temperature sensor 441 (S3).It is determined whether the interior 130 of the refrigerator is higherthan a reference temperature T_(P) (S4). If the interior 130 of therefrigerator is higher than the reference temperature, an operation of aquench mode is prepared (S5). If the interior 130 of the refrigerator islower than the reference temperature, an operation of a normal mode isprepared (S6). However, operation of the vehicle refrigerator is notstarted.

The reference temperature may be set to 15° C. The selection of thereference temperature will be described with reference to the graph ofsolubility of carbon dioxide in FIG. 14 .

Referring to FIG. 14 , the solubility of carbon dioxide varies accordingto a temperature, and under 1 atmospheres, the temperature may increasetwice while changing from 30° C. to 15° C. An amount of carbon dioxidedissolved in soft drinks is the main factor that gives the refreshingfeeling of carbonated beverages. Thus, the inventor selects apredetermined reference temperature of 15° C., which is twice thesolubility of carbon dioxide, as compared to when the general personfeels hot. The reference temperature may be used as a reference forclassifying the quench mode and the normal mode.

In the quench mode, a target temperature T_(target) may be set to anytemperature in the middle of −5° C. to 0° C., and a control temperaturedeviation T_(diff) may be set to 0° C. In the target temperature and thecontrol temperature deviation, the temperature of the interior 130 ofthe refrigerator may be controlled at a temperature between −5° C. and0° C. In other words, the refrigeration system is turned off when thetemperature reaches −5° C., and the refrigeration system is turned onwhen the temperature reaches 0° C.

In the quench mode, the temperature of the interior 130 of therefrigerator may be cooled quickly. In the quench mode, the operationfrequency of the compressor 201 is 60 Hz, and the fan of thecondensation module 500 provided in the machine room 200, and theevaporation fan 420 may be operated at 12V. A minimum temperature of thetarget temperature T_(target) in the quench mode is set to −5° C. withreference to the temperature change curve of the members placed in theinterior 130 of the refrigerator in the quench mode shown in FIG. 13 .

Referring to FIG. 13 , when the quench mode is started, the temperatureof the sensor quickly decreases initially, and the temperature of thestorage slowly drops due to its internal capacity. More specifically, asillustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 , the cold air blown into the interior ofthe refrigerator is cooled most quickly because a large amount of coldair is firstly close to a storage article. A storage article is cooledmost late because the cold air is close most late and has passed throughother storage articles. A large amount of cold air passing through thestorage article 1 is close to the storage article, and cold airdischarged from the cold air discharge port of the evaporation module inthe storage article is immediately close to the storage article.

In FIG. 13 , the target temperature may be set to −5° C. with referenceto the temperature of the temperature sensor 441 at a point (a dottedline) at which the storage article is 0° C. This makes it possible toprevent the storage article from being frozen.

Table 1 is a table for measuring the temperature of each component at apoint A in FIG. 5 .

TABLE 1 Items Value Time 88 minutes Temperature sensor −5.1° C. Storagearticle {circle around (1)}  0 Storage article {circle around (2)}  7.6Storage article {circle around (3)}  7.7 Storage article {circle around(4)} 11.8 Storage article average  6.8

Description will be made with reference to FIG. 11 again. The normalmode will be described.

In the normal mode, the target temperature T_(target) may be set to 4°C. and the control temperature deviation T_(diff) may be set to 4° C. Inthe target temperature and the control temperature deviation, thetemperature of the interior 130 of the refrigerator may be controlled ata temperature between 0° C. and 8° C. In other words, the refrigerationsystem is turned off when the temperature reaches 0° C., and therefrigeration system is turned on when the temperature reaches 8° C.

The reason why the target temperature of the normal mode is set to 4° C.is to maintain a uniform temperature of the liquid in the storage usingconvection of the liquid in the storage. Specifically, a lowest densityof water is at 4° C. Also, the cold air is guided to a point higher thanthe middle of the storage article (see FIG. 8 ), and the liquid may becirculated inside the storage article by positively utilizing thephenomenon that the lowered liquid sinks downward. Thus, in order toperform the action of the high density liquid sinking and the action ofthe liquid rising on the lower side to be performed on average in theinside of the storage article, the target temperature is set to 4° C.,and the normal mode is set in the range of 0° C. to 8° C.

In the normal mode, the interior 130 of the refrigerator may be cooledmore slowly than in the quench mode. This is because the main purpose isto keep the stored product at a low temperature. In the normal mode, theoperation frequency of the compressor 201 is 40 Hz, and the fan of thecondensation module 500 provided in the machine room 200, and theevaporation fan 420 may be operated at 10V.

The normal mode may reduce noise compared to the quench mode. In otherwords, as the compressor located on the side of the driver's adjacentside is operated at a low frequency, influence of vibration and noise ofthe compressor felt by the user may be minimized.

On the other hand, there are many cases where the vehicle is placedoutdoors rather than indoors. If a parking status of the vehiclecontinues, the vehicle refrigerator is in thermal equilibrium with thevehicle. Like the vehicle, the vehicle refrigerator will become hot insummer, and the vehicle refrigerator will become cold in winter. As timeelapses after operation of the vehicle, the internal environment of thevehicle and the refrigerator for the vehicle will progressively be inthermal equilibrium.

The user may drive the vehicle refrigerator by inserting beverages andfood, for example (hereinafter, abbreviated as ‘storage article’), intothe vehicle refrigerator. The storage article accommodated in theinterior 130 of the refrigerator may act in a direction of increasingheat load and a direction of decreasing heat load with respect to thecurrent environment of the interior 130 of the refrigerator. In otherwords, the storage environment, as well as the indoor environment of thevehicle, may act as a factor for changing the temperature of theinterior 130 of the refrigerator. For example, if the temperature of thestorage article is lower than the temperature of the interior 130 of therefrigerator, the temperature of the storage article is lowered. If thetemperature of the storage article is higher than the temperature of theinterior 130 of the refrigerator, it may act in a direction to increasethe temperature of the interior 130 of the refrigerator.

It is a major object of the embodiment to allow a user to quickly andconveniently take the storage article in response to a thermal state ofthe storage article. In order to achieve this object, the temperature ismeasured in the measuring step (S3) of the internal temperature, andthen the temperature is measured again after waiting for a predeterminedtime. The waiting time may be set to 30 seconds to 90 seconds. Thewaiting time may be understood as a time for reading the thermal stateof the storage article. For example, if the temperature of the storagearticle is higher than the temperature measured in the step (S3) ofmeasuring the internal temperature, the measured temperature after thewaiting time increases. On the other hand, if the temperature of thestorage article is lower than the temperature measured in the step (S3)of measuring the internal temperature, the measured temperature afterthe waiting time decreases.

The operation mode is determined in the quench mode or the normal modeby determining the temperature change ΔT at the beginning and the end ofthe waiting time (S7). In order to grasp the temperature change ΔT inthe interior of the refrigerator, the time measured at the beginning maybe referred to as the first time and the time at which the measurementis performed later may be referred to as the second time. If it isdetermined in the operation mode determination step (S7) that thetemperature change ΔT in the interior of the refrigerator is positive,and the temperature in the interior of the refrigerator is high. In theoperation mode determination step (S7), if the temperature change ΔT inthe interior of the refrigerator is negative and the temperature in theinterior of the refrigerator is lowered, the normal mode is assumed tobe the cold storage article.

Like the storage article, room temperature of the vehicle may have thesame effect. For example, if the vehicle's room temperature is high,quenching is appropriate, and vice versa. Through this operation, thetemperature of the vehicle refrigerator may be quickly and optimallycontrolled.

The execution of the quench mode (S8) is an operation in which thetemperature in the interior of the refrigerator is drastically lowered,resulting in high power consumption and large vibration noise.Therefore, there is a limitation that energy of the vehicle is wastedand inconvenience is caused to a sensitive driver. In view of such alimitation, it is advantageous to stop operation in the quench modeafter reaching the target temperature.

For this, it is determined whether the temperature in the interior ofthe refrigerator detected by the temperature sensor has reached thetarget temperature T_(target) of the quench mode (S9), and the mode isswitched from the quench mode to the normal mode. As described above,the target temperature of the quench mode may be set to a temperaturerange of −5° C. to 0° C. The control temperature deviation T_(diff) maybe set to 0° C. Therefore, in the quench mode operation, after reachingthe preset target temperature, the operation is performed by switchingto the normal mode. The execution of the normal mode (S10) may beperformed after the quench mode is terminated or when a cold storagearticle is received.

In the normal mode (S10), the temperature in the interior of therefrigerator is slowly lowered and the temperature in the interior 130of the refrigerator is maintained in a constant temperature range.Therefore, when performing the normal mode, power consumption is low,and vibration and noise are small.

The execution of the normal mode (S10) is performed at the targettemperature T_(target) and the control temperature deviation T_(diff),as described above. Specifically, it is determined whether or not itdeviates from a predetermined temperature range (from 0° C. to 8° C.according to the above figures) (S11). When the upper limit is shiftedupward, driving of the vehicle refrigerator is continued (S10). In thecase of deviating downward, driving of the vehicle refrigerator isstopped (S12). For reference, in the determining step (S11) of thetemperature range, in the section in which the determination result isnot changed, operation goes on in the direction of the previousdetermination result.

For example, if the result of the quench mode (S9) is determined to be−5° C., and the mode is shifted to the normal mode, the normal mode isentered, and the refrigerator is operated (S10). However, as thetemperature is out of the predetermined temperature range of the normalmode (i.e., a range of from 0° C. to 8° C.) (S11), the refrigeratorstops driving the refrigerator (S12). Thereafter, it is determinedwhether the switch of the refrigerator (that is, the user's instruction)is turned off (S13), and operation of the refrigerator is stoppedcontinuously until the upper limit of the predetermined temperaturerange is exceeded.

Thereafter, when the measured temperature of the temperature sensor isout of the upper limit (that is, for example, 8° C. or more), theprocess proceeds to the drive mode of the refrigerator (S10), and thenthe normal mode is operated. Thus, the temperature starts to drop. Thatis, operation when the upper limit is exceeded is continued for acertain time.

Subsequently, in results of the temperature measured to determine thedetermined temperature range (S11), when it is determined that themeasured temperature of the temperature sensor is out of the lower limit(that is, for example, 0° C. or less), the step of stopping operation ofthe refrigerator again).

As a result of the above, in the normal mode, the temperature in theinterior of the refrigerator may be maintained within a constanttemperature range. The user may enjoy a cold drink.

In the above embodiment, even if the initial temperature T_(O) in theinterior of the refrigerator is higher than the reference temperatureT_(P), it is determined to be one of the quench mode or the normal modebased on only the result (S7) of determining the temperature change atthe start and end of the waiting time. For example, even if thereference temperature is higher than the reference temperature of 15° C.at the start of the waiting time, if the temperature decreases at theend of the waiting time period, that is, if the temperature change ΔT inthe interior of the refrigerator is negative, it operates in the normalmode.

This is because, if the temperature change ΔT in the interior of therefrigerator is negative, the temperature of the storage article is low,so that the user operates the article in a satisfactory manner even ifthe apparatus is operated in the normal mode. In this case, as thevehicle refrigerator is operated in a low noise state, there is aneffect that low noise may be realized. Of course, power consumption maybe reduced, so that energy utilization efficiency may be increased.

However, in some cases, a user who wants to store the storage article ata very low temperature may be desperate. In this case, referring to FIG.11B, if the temperature in the interior of the refrigerator is higherthan the reference temperature at the start of the standby time, even ifthe temperature decreases at the end of the standby time, that is, evenif the temperature change ΔT in the interior of the refrigerator isnegative to operate in the quench mode (S14). In this case, it may bethe case that the vehicle is kept in a non-operating state for a longtime, or the vehicle is operated after stopping, and the temperature inthe interior of the refrigerator is high.

FIG. 12 is a graph for explaining an operation mode of a vehiclerefrigerator according to another embodiment. Referring to FIG. 12 , ahorizontal axis represents the initial temperature T_(O) in the interiorof the refrigerator, and a center is the reference temperature T_(P),which is 15° C. A vertical axis is the temperature change ΔT in theinterior of the refrigerator, and the center is 0° C.

According to another embodiment, it may be seen that the fourth quadrantin FIG. 12 is operated in the quench mode. This is different from thatin the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, even if the initialtemperature T_(O) in the interior of the refrigerator is higher than thereference temperature, it is different from driving in the normal modeif the temperature change ΔT in the interior of the refrigerator isnegative.

In another embodiment, the initial temperature T_(O) in the interior ofthe refrigerator may be set to a final temperature in the interior ofthe refrigerator, that is, to a temperature at which the operation ofthe refrigeration cycle starts after the waiting time has elapsed. Inthis case, the operation mode may be determined based on the moreaccurate temperature of the current time point.

The structure and action of the vacuum adiabatic body 101 will bedescribed hereinafter.

FIG. 15A-15C are views illustrating an internal configuration of avacuum adiabatic body according to various embodiments.

First, referring to FIG. 15A, a vacuum space part (space) 50 is providedin a third space having a different pressure from first and secondspaces, a vacuum state, thereby reducing adiabatic loss. The third spacemay be provided at a temperature between a temperature of the firstspace and a temperature of the second space. A component that resistsheat transfer between the first space and the second space may be calleda heat resistance unit. Hereinafter, all various components may beapplied, or the various components may be selectively applied. In anarrow sense, a components that resists heat transfer between the platemembers may be referred to as a heat resistance unit.

The third space is provided as a space in the vacuum state. Thus, thefirst and second plate members 10 and 20 receive a force contracting ina direction in which they approach each other due to a forcecorresponding to a pressure difference between the first and secondspaces. Therefore, the vacuum space part 50 may be deformed in adirection in which it is reduced. In this case, the adiabatic loss maybe caused due to an increase in amount of heat radiation, caused by thecontraction of the vacuum space part 50, and an increase in amount ofheat conduction, caused by contact between the plate members 10 and 20.

A supporting unit (support) 30 may be provided to reduce deformation ofthe vacuum space part 50. The supporting unit 30 includes a bar 31. Thebar 31 may extend in a substantially vertical direction with respect tothe plate members to support a distance between the first plate memberand the second plate member. A support plate 35 may be additionallyprovided on at least any one end of the bar 31. The support plate 35 mayconnect at least two or more bars 31 to each other to extend in ahorizontal direction with respect to the first and second plate members10 and 20.

The support plate 35 may be provided in a plate shape or may be providedin a lattice shape so that an area of the support plate contacting thefirst or second plate member 10 or 20 decreases, thereby reducing heattransfer. The bar and the support plate 35 are fixed to each other at atleast one portion, to be inserted together between the first and secondplate members 10 and 20. The support plate 35 contacts at least one ofthe first and second plate members 10 and 20, thereby preventingdeformation of the first and second plate members 10 and 20. Inaddition, based on an extending direction of the bars 31, a totalsectional area of the support plate 35 is provided to be greater thanthat of the bars 31, so that heat transferred through the bars 31 may bediffused through the support plate 35.

The supporting unit 30 may be made of a resin selected frompolycarbonate (PC), glass fiber PC, low outgassing PC, polyphenylenesulfide (PPS), and liquid crystal polymer (LCP) to obtain highcompressive strength, a low outgassing and water absorption rate, lowthermal conductivity, high compressive strength at a high temperature,and superior processability.

A radiation resistance sheet 32 for reducing heat radiation between thefirst and second plate members 10 and 20 through the vacuum space part50 will be described. The first and second plate members 10 and 20 maybe made of a stainless material capable of preventing corrosion andproviding a sufficient strength. The stainless material has a relativelyhigh emissivity of 0.16, and hence a large amount of radiation heat maybe transferred. In addition, the supporting unit 30 made of the resinhas a lower emissivity than the plate members, and is not entirelyprovided to inner surfaces of the first and second plate members 10 and20. Hence, the supporting unit 30 does not have great influence onradiation heat. Therefore, the radiation resistance sheet 32 may beprovided in a plate shape over a majority of the area of the vacuumspace part 50 so as to concentrate on reduction of radiation heattransferred between the first and second plate members 10 and 20.

A product having a low emissivity may be used as the material of theradiation resistance sheet 32. In an embodiment, an aluminum foil havingan emissivity of 0.02 may be used as the radiation resistance sheet 32.Also, at least one radiation resistance sheet 32 may be provided at acertain distance so as not to contact each other. At least one radiationresistance sheet may be provided in a state in which it contacts theinner surface of the first or second plate member 10 or 20. Even whenthe vacuum space part 50 has a low height, one sheet of radiationresistance sheet may be inserted. In a case of the vehicle refrigerator7, one sheet of radiation resistance sheet may be inserted so that thevacuum adiabatic body 101 has a thin thickness, and the inner capacityof the cavity 100 is secured.

Referring back FIG. 15B, a distance between the plate members ismaintained by the supporting unit 30, and a porous material 33 may befilled in the vacuum space part 50. The porous material 33 may have ahigher emissivity than the stainless material of the first and secondplate members 10 and 20. However, as the porous material 33 is filled inthe vacuum space part 50, the porous material 33 has a high efficiencyfor resisting the radiation heat transfer. In the present embodiment,the vacuum adiabatic body may be manufactured without the radiationresistance sheet 32.

Referring to FIG. 15C, the supporting unit 30 for maintaining the vacuumspace part 50 may not be provided. A porous material 33 may be providedto be surrounded by a film 34 instead of the supporting unit 30. Theporous material 33 may be provided in a state of being compressed sothat the interval of the vacuum space part is maintained. The film 34made of, for example, a polyethylene resin (PE) material may be providedin a state in which a hole is punched in the film 34.

In the present embodiment, the vacuum adiabatic body may be manufacturedwithout the supporting unit 30. That is, the porous material 33 mayperform the function of the radiation resistance sheet 32 and thefunction of the supporting unit 30 together.

FIGS. 16A-16B are views showing embodiments of conductive resistancesheets and peripheral parts thereof. Referring to FIG. 16A, the firstand second plate members 10 and 20 are to be sealed so as to vacuumizethe interior of the vacuum adiabatic body. In this case, as the twoplate members have different temperatures from each other, heat transfermay occur between the two plate members. A conductive resistance sheet60 is provided to prevent heat conduction between two different kinds ofplate members.

The conductive resistance sheet 60 may be provided with sealing parts(sealing) 61 at both ends of which the conductive resistance sheet 60are sealed to define at least one portion of the wall for the thirdspace and maintain the vacuum state. The conductive resistance sheet 60may be provided as a thin foil in unit of micrometer so as to reduce theamount of heat conducted along the wall for the third space. The sealingparts 61 may be provided as welding parts. That is, the conductiveresistance sheet 60 and the plate members 10 and 20 may be fused to eachother. In order to cause a fusing action between the conductiveresistance sheet 60 and the plate members 10 and 20, the conductiveresistance sheet 60 and the plate members 10 and 20 may be made of asame material, and a stainless material may be used as the material. Thesealing parts 61 are not limited to the welding parts, and may beprovided through a process, such as cocking. The conductive resistancesheet 60 may be provided in a curved shape. Thus, a heat conductiondistance of the conductive resistance sheet 60 is provided longer than alinear distance of each plate member, so that the amount of heatconduction may be further reduced.

A change in temperature occurs along the conductive resistance sheet 60.Therefore, in order to block heat transfer to the exterior of theconductive resistance sheet 60, a shielding part (shield) 62 may beprovided at an exterior of the conductive resistance sheet 60 such thatan adiabatic action occurs. That is, in a case of the refrigerator 7 fora vehicle, the second plate member 20 has a high temperature and thefirst plate member 10 has a low temperature. In addition, heatconduction from high temperature to low temperature occurs in theconductive resistance sheet 60, and hence, the temperature of theconductive resistance sheet 60 is suddenly changed. Therefore, when theconductive resistance sheet 60 is opened to the exterior thereof, heattransfer through the opened place may seriously occur.

In order to reduce heat loss, the shielding part 62 is provided at anexterior of the conductive resistance sheet 60. For example, when theconductive resistance sheet 60 is exposed to any one of thelow-temperature space and the high-temperature space, the conductiveresistance sheet 60 does not serve as a conductive resistor as well asthe exposed portion thereof.

The shielding part 62 may be provided as a porous substance contactingan outer surface of the conductive resistance sheet 60, may be providedas an adiabatic structure, e.g., a separate gasket, which is placed atthe exterior of the conductive resistance sheet 60, or may be providedas the console cover 300 disposed at a position facing the conductiveresistance sheet 60.

A heat transfer path between the first and second plate members 10 and20 will be described with reference to FIG. 16A.

Heat passing through the vacuum adiabatic body may be divided intosurface conduction heat {circle around (1)} conducted along a surface ofthe vacuum adiabatic body, more specifically, the conductive resistancesheet 60, supporter conduction heat {circle around (2)} conducted alongthe supporting unit 30 provided inside of the vacuum adiabatic body, gasconduction heat {circle around (3)} conducted through an internal gas inthe vacuum space part, and radiation transfer heat {circle around (4)}transferred through the vacuum space part.

The transfer heat may be changed depending on various depending onvarious design dimensions. For example, the supporting unit may bechanged such that the first and second plate members 10 and 20 mayendure a vacuum pressure without being deformed, the vacuum pressure maybe changed, a distance between the plate members may be changed, and alength of the conductive resistance sheet may be changed. The transferheat may be changed depending on a difference in temperature between thespaces (the first and second spaces) respectively provided by the platemembers. In the embodiment, a configuration of the vacuum adiabatic bodyhas been found by considering that its total heat transfer amount issmaller than that of a typical adiabatic structure formed by foamingpolyurethane. In a typical refrigerator including the adiabaticstructure formed by foaming the polyurethane, an effective heat transfercoefficient may be proposed as 19.6 mW/mK.

By performing a relative analysis on heat transfer amounts of the vacuumadiabatic body of the embodiment, a heat transfer amount by the gasconduction heat {circle around (3)} may become smallest. For example,the heat transfer amount by the gas conduction heat may be controlled tobe equal to or smaller than 4% of the total heat transfer amount. A heattransfer amount by solid conduction heat defined as a sum of the surfaceconduction heat and the supporter conduction heat is largest. Forexample, the heat transfer amount by the solid conduction heat may reach75% of the total heat transfer amount. A heat transfer amount by theradiation transfer heat is smaller than the heat transfer amount by thesolid conduction heat but larger than the heat transfer amount of thegas conduction heat. For example, the heat transfer amount by theradiation transfer heat may occupy about 20% of the total heat transferamount.

According to such a heat transfer distribution, effective heat transfercoefficients (eK: effective K) (W/mK) of the surface conduction heat,the supporter conduction heat, the gas conduction heat, and theradiation transfer heat may have an order of Math Equation 1.eK _(solid conduction heat) >eK _(radiation transfer heat) >eK_(gas conduction heat)  [Equation 1]

Here, the effective heat transfer coefficient (eK) is a value that maybe measured using a shape and temperature differences of a targetproduct. The effective heat transfer coefficient (eK) is a value thatmay be obtained by measuring a total heat transfer amount and atemperature at least one portion at which heat is transferred. Forexample, a calorific value (W) is measured using a heating source thatmay be quantitatively measured in the refrigerator, a temperaturedistribution (K) of the door is measured using heats respectivelytransferred through a main body and an edge of the door of therefrigerator, and a path through which heat is transferred is calculatedas a conversion value (m), thereby evaluating an effective heat transfercoefficient.

The effective heat transfer coefficient (eK) of the entire vacuumadiabatic body is a value given by k=QL/AΔT. Here, Q denotes a calorificvalue (W) and may be obtained using a calorific value of a heater. Adenotes a sectional area (m2) of the vacuum adiabatic body, L denotes athickness (m) of the vacuum adiabatic body, and ΔT denotes a temperaturedifference.

For the surface conduction heat, a conductive calorific value may beobtained through a temperature difference (ΔT) between an entrance andan exit of the conductive resistance sheet 60 or 63, a sectional area(A) of the conductive resistance sheet, a length (L) of the conductiveresistance sheet, and a thermal conductivity (k) of the conductiveresistance sheet (the thermal conductivity of the conductive resistancesheet is a material property of a material and may be obtained inadvance). For the supporter conduction heat, a conductive calorificvalue may be obtained through a temperature difference (ΔT) between anentrance and an exit of the supporting unit 30, a sectional area (A) ofthe supporting unit, a length (L) of the supporting unit, and a thermalconductivity (k) of the supporting unit. Here, the thermal conductivityof the supporting unit is a material property of a material and may beobtained in advance. The sum of the gas conduction heat, and theradiation transfer heat may be obtained by subtracting the surfaceconduction heat and the supporter conduction heat from the heat transferamount of the entire vacuum adiabatic body. A ratio the gas conductionheat, and the radiation transfer heat may be obtained by evaluatingradiation transfer heat when no gas conduction heat exists by remarkablylowering a vacuum degree of the vacuum space part 50.

When a porous material is provided inside the vacuum space part 50,porous material conduction heat may be a sum of the supporter conductionheat and the radiation transfer heat. The porous material conductionheat may be changed depending on various variables including a kind, andan amount, for example, of the porous material.

In the second plate member 20 temperature difference between an averagetemperature of the second plate and a temperature at a point at which aheat transfer path passing through the conductive resistance sheet 60meets the second plate may be largest. For example, when the secondspace is a region hotter than the first space, the temperature at thepoint at which the heat transfer path passing through the conductiveresistance sheet meets the second plate member becomes lowest.Similarly, when the second space is a region colder than the firstspace, the temperature at the point at which the heat transfer pathpassing through the conductive resistance sheet meets the second platemember becomes highest.

This means that the amount of heat transferred through other pointsexcept the surface conduction heat passing through the conductiveresistance sheet should be controlled, and the entire heat transferamount satisfying the vacuum adiabatic body may be achieved only whenthe surface conduction heat occupies the largest heat transfer amount.To this end, a temperature variation of the conductive resistance sheetmay be controlled to be larger than that of the plate member.

Physical characteristics of the parts constituting the vacuum adiabaticbody will be described. In the vacuum adiabatic body, a force by vacuumpressure is applied to all of the parts. Therefore, a material having astrength (N/m2) of a certain level may be used.

Referring to FIG. 16B, this configuration is the same as that of FIG.16A except that portions at which the first plate member 10, and thesecond plate member 20 are coupled to the conductive resistance sheet60. Thus, respective description has been omitted and only thecharacteristic changes are described.

Ends of the plate members 10 and 20 may be bent to the second spacehaving a high temperature to form a flange part (flange) 65. A weldingpart (welding) 61 may be disposed on a top surface of the flange part 65to couple the conductive resistance sheet 60 to the flange part 65. Inthis embodiment, the worker may perform welding while facing only anyonesurface. Thus, since it is unnecessary to perform two processes, theprocess may be convenient.

It is more advantageous to apply the case in which welding of the insideand the outside are difficult as illustrated in FIG. 16A because a spaceof the vacuum space part 50 is narrow like the vehicle refrigerator 7.

FIG. 17 is a graph illustrating results obtained by observing a time anda pressure in a process of exhausting the inside of the vacuum adiabaticbody when a supporting unit is used. Referring to FIG. 17 , in order tocreate the vacuum space part 50 to be in the vacuum state, a gas in thevacuum space part 50 is exhausted by a vacuum pump while evaporating alatent gas remaining in parts of the vacuum space part 50 throughbaking. However, if the vacuum pressure reaches a certain level or more,there exists a point at which the level of the vacuum pressure is notincreased any more (ΔT1). After that, the getter is activated bydisconnecting the vacuum space part 50 from the vacuum pump and applyingheat to the vacuum space part 50(ΔT2). If the getter is activated, thepressure in the vacuum space part 50 is decreased for a certain periodof time, but then normalized to maintain a vacuum pressure of a certainlevel. The vacuum pressure that maintains the certain level afteractivation of the getter is approximately 1.8×10-6 Torr.

In the embodiment, a point at which the vacuum pressure is notsubstantially decreased any more even though the gas is exhausted byoperating the vacuum pump is set to a lowest limit of the vacuumpressure used in the vacuum adiabatic body, thereby setting a minimuminternal pressure of the vacuum space part 50 to 1.8×10-6 Torr.

FIG. 18 is a graph obtained by comparing a vacuum pressure with gasconductivity. Referring to FIG. 18 , gas conductivities with respect tovacuum pressures depending on sizes of a gap in the vacuum space part 50are represented as graphs of effective heat transfer coefficients (eK).Effective heat transfer coefficients (eK) were measured when the gap inthe vacuum space part 50 has three sizes of 2.76 mm, 6.5 mm, and 12.5mm. The gap in the vacuum space part 50 is defined as follows. When theradiation resistance sheet 32 exists inside of the vacuum space part 50,the gap is a distance between the radiation resistance sheet 32 and theplate member adjacent thereto. When the radiation resistance sheet 32does not exist inside of the vacuum space part 50, the gap is a distancebetween the first and second plate members.

It was seen that, as the size of the gap is small at a pointcorresponding to a typical effective heat transfer coefficient of 0.0196W/mK, which is provided to a adiabatic material formed by foamingpolyurethane, the vacuum pressure is 2.65×10-1 Torr even when the sizeof the gap is 2.76 mm. It was seen that the point at which reduction inadiabatic effect caused by gas conduction heat is saturated even thoughthe vacuum pressure is decreased is a point at which the vacuum pressureis approximately 4.5×10-3 Torr. The vacuum pressure of 4.5×10-3 Torr maybe defined as the point at which the reduction in adiabatic effectcaused by gas conduction heat is saturated. Also, when the effectiveheat transfer coefficient is 0.1 W/mK, the vacuum pressure is 1.2×10-2Torr.

When the vacuum space part 50 is not provided with the supporting unitbut provided with the porous material, the size of the gap ranges from afew micrometers to a few hundreds of micrometers. In this case, theamount of radiation heat transfer is small due to the porous materialeven when the vacuum pressure is relatively high, i.e., when the vacuumdegree is low. Therefore, an appropriate vacuum pump is used to adjustthe vacuum pressure. The vacuum pressure appropriate to thecorresponding vacuum pump is approximately 2.0×10-4 Torr. Also, thevacuum pressure at the point at which the reduction in adiabatic effectcaused by gas conduction heat is saturated is approximately 4.7×10-2Torr. Also, the pressure where the reduction in adiabatic effect causedby gas conduction heat reaches the typical effective heat transfercoefficient of 0.0196 W/mK is 730 Torr.

When the supporting unit and the porous material are provided togetherin the vacuum space part, a vacuum pressure may be created and used,which is in the middle between the vacuum pressure when only thesupporting unit is used and the vacuum pressure when only the porousmaterial is used.

Hereinafter, another embodiment will be described.

In above-described embodiment, the refrigerator applied to the vehiclehas been mainly described. However, embodiments are not limited thereto.For example, the ideas may be applied to a warming refrigerator and acooling and warming refrigerator. Of course, embodiments are not limitedto a vehicle, but may be applied to any apparatus that generates adesired temperature of a product. However, it would be advantageous forthe vehicle refrigerator.

Particularly, in the case of the warming apparatus, a direction of therefrigerant may be configured to be opposite to that of therefrigerator. In the case of the cooling and warming apparatus, foursides that reverse the direction of the refrigerant may be installed onthe refrigerant passage according to whether the refrigerant operates asa refrigerator or a warming apparatus.

The condensation module may be referred to as a first heat exchangemodule or first heat exchanger, and the evaporation module may bereferred to as a second heat exchange module or second heat exchangerregardless of the change of the refrigerator and the warming apparatus.The first and second meanings denote division of the heat exchangemodule and may be exchanged with each other.

According to embodiments, a vehicle refrigerator that receives onlypower from outside and which is an independent apparatus may beefficiently realized.

Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” “example embodiment,” etc., means that a particularfeature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with theembodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. Theappearances of such phrases in various places in the specification arenot necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, when aparticular feature, structure, or characteristic is described inconnection with any embodiment, it is submitted that it is within thepurview of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, orcharacteristic in connection with other ones of the embodiments.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number ofillustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerousother modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled inthe art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles ofthis disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modificationsare possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subjectcombination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawingsand the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications inthe component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also beapparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for controlling a refrigerator for avehicle, the method comprising: turning on a switch of the refrigeratorfor the vehicle; measuring a first temperature in an interior of therefrigerator for the vehicle a first time to recognize the firsttemperature being greater than a reference temperature; measuring asecond temperature in the interior of the refrigerator for the vehicle asecond time after a predetermined period of time has elapsed from thefirst time; determining a temperature change in the interior of therefrigerator being negative, based on the first temperature and thesecond temperature; determining to operate the refrigerator in a quenchmode among at least two modes including the quench mode and a normalmode, based on the temperature change in the interior of therefrigerator; and operating the refrigerator for the vehicle in thedetermined quench mode.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein a temperaturein the interior of the refrigerator in the quench mode is lowered fasterthan in the normal mode.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein a wall of therefrigerator for the vehicle is provided as a vacuum adiabatic body, andwherein the vacuum adiabatic body comprises: a first plate; a secondplate; a sealing that seals the first plate and the second plate toprovide a vacuum space between the first plate and the second plate,wherein the refrigerator further comprises a fan to blow air into astorage space of the refrigerator, and wherein a first voltage appliedto the fan in the quench mode is greater than a second voltage appliedto the fan in the normal mode.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein atemperature in the interior of the refrigerator in the quench mode ischanged faster than in the normal mode.
 5. The method of claim 3,wherein a temperature in the interior of the refrigerator is defined asa temperature measured after the switch of the refrigerator for thevehicle is turned on.
 6. A method for controlling a refrigerator for avehicle, the method comprising: turning on a switch of the refrigeratorfor the vehicle; measuring a first temperature of an interior of therefrigerator for the vehicle a first time; measuring a secondtemperature of the interior of the refrigerator for the vehicle a secondtime after a predetermined period of time has elapsed from the firsttime; and determining in which mode to operate the refrigerator among atleast two modes to operate the refrigerator, based on the firsttemperature in the interior of the refrigerator, wherein the at leasttwo modes include a quench mode and a normal mode, and wherein a firsttarget temperature in the quench mode is lower than a second targettemperature in the normal mode, and a first control temperaturedeviation in the quench mode is less than a second control temperaturedeviation in the normal mode.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein atemperature in the interior of the refrigerator in the quench mode islowered faster than in the normal mode.
 8. The method of claim 7,wherein when the first temperature in the interior of the refrigeratoris higher than a reference temperature, the refrigerator for the vehicleis operated in the quench mode.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein whenthe first temperature in the interior of the refrigerator is lower thana reference temperature, the refrigerator for the vehicle is operated inthe normal mode.
 10. A method for controlling a refrigerator for avehicle, the method comprising: measuring a first value in relation tothe refrigerator a first time; measuring a second value in relation tothe refrigerator a second time after a predetermined period of time haselapsed from the first time; determining a value change in relation tothe refrigerator, based on the first value and the second value; anddetermining in which mode to operate the refrigerator among at least twomodes to operate the refrigerator, based on the value change in relationto the refrigerator, the at least two modes including a quench mode anda normal mode, wherein a wall of the refrigerator for the vehicle isprovided as a vacuum adiabatic body, and wherein the vacuum adiabaticbody comprises: a first plate; a second plate; a sealing that seals thefirst plate and the second plate to provide a vacuum space between thefirst plate and the second plate, and wherein a first target value inthe quench mode is less than a second target value in the normal mode,and the quench mode is switched into the normal mode when a value inrelation to the refrigerator reaches the first target value whileperforming the quench mode.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein thefirst value, the second value, the first target value, and the secondtarget value are defined as a temperature in relation to therefrigerator for the vehicle.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein thevalue in relation to the refrigerator in the quench mode is changedfaster than in the normal mode.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein whenthe value change in relation to the refrigerator is negative, therefrigerator for the vehicle is operated in the normal mode.
 14. Themethod of claim 12, wherein when the value change in relation to therefrigerator is positive, the refrigerator for the vehicle is operatedin the quench mode.
 15. The method of claim 10, wherein the first valueand the second value in relation to the refrigerator are defined as afirst value and a second value measured by a sensor after the switch ofthe refrigerator for the vehicle is turned on.